WE ARE NEW CREATIONS

Luke 5: 36 He told them this parable: "No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one pours new wine into old wind-skin. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine want the new, for he says, 'The old is better.' "

God is not impressed by our words; He's impressed with our practice.  Walking around talking about God is good, but are we living what we speak about.  Saying we are saved means nothing if our actions do not confirm it. Luke 5:33-39 explains how some Christians try to take shortcuts with Christ; we want to hang on to our old worldly ways, which we think are patched by attending Church.  Becoming a Christian is a process, just like the process of making wine. Harvesting is the first step (Coming to Christ); then fermentation enters into play (we add the Word of God until the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts).   Then Clarification (the process of removing all the old and replacing it with the New),   the last step is Aging ( the more we study and meditate on the Word, pray, worship, and praise, the more Christ-like we become).  If we do not give up our old ways, there will be no room for Christ in our temple.  The Holy Spirit is like new wine; we do not put new wine in an old wineskin, so He cleanses the ancient temple with the Word, then He fills it with a new Spirit.

Lord, help us release our old ways so that we can become changed men and women; fill us with the Holy Spirit to help us obey You.  Father, teach us how to become a new creation and not be worldly Christians.  Lord, open our hearts and minds so we can receive and understand Your Word.  Father, give us Your wisdom and knowledge so we can implement You into our daily lives.  Lord, help us develop the fruit to become more like Christ and mature into the believers You created us to be, so give us a desire for the things of the Spirit.  Father, we have lost a whole generation and are about to lose another; by not training our children and our children's children in the way to go, they would not have strayed far from You.  Forgive us for not standing up for You as we should; forgive us for our doubts and fears, help us be steadfast in Your Word.  Father, we give up our free will for Your will, help us surrender all to You, and unite Your people from all generations to honor and praise You. as we bear witness to Your grace, in Jesus' name Amen.